The Ivory Coast held a televised tribute Tuesday in Abidjan tohonorIvory Coast Prime MinisterAmadouGonCoulibaly, who died suddenly last week of a heart attack.

Coulibaly'spassing comes a few months before he was to become the ruling party's presumptive presidential candidate.

PresidentAlassaneOuattara, who led the memorial service, consideredthe61-year oldCoulibalyto be his successor.

There is currently no clear-cut replacement forCoulibaly, who was widely respected.

KadiaCamara, Ivory Coast's Education Minister, rememberedCoulibalyas a gifted negotiator.

Hesaid, "whenCoulibalyspokewith civilsociety partners and the political opposition, he provedhehad a great capacity for listening, forresilience, andfor compromise which allowed us to reach preciousagreements”Officialssaid.Coulibalywill be buried Friday in his hometown ofKorhogoin northern Ivory Coast.

VOA